September is ideal for visiting places that people really love, because by then most of those people have gone home. The Adriatic is one of those places, and one excursion you shouldn’t miss is Ljubljana’s strikingly pretty city center. (If only all capital cities were this human-friendly.) Throughout your voyage the scenery is movie-like: Hvar’s countryside, Kotor rising at the end of a spectacular fjord, the charming fishing village of Fiskardo, ancient Olympia, Taormina’s sweeping views, and the beautiful Amalfi Coast. For an insider’s perspective, join us on small-group culinary, wine tasting and farm tours that will convince you to visit again, and soon.

September is ideal for visiting places that people really love, because by then most of those people have gone home. The Adriatic is one of those places, and one excursion you shouldn’t miss is Ljubljana’s strikingly pretty city center. (If only all capital cities were this human-friendly.) Throughout your voyage the scenery is movie-like: Hvar’s countryside, Kotor rising at the end of a spectacular fjord, the charming fishing village of Fiskardo, ancient Olympia, Taormina’s sweeping views, and the beautiful Amalfi Coast. For an insider’s perspective, join us on small-group culinary, wine tasting and farm tours that will convince you to visit again, and soon.

Venice, Italy
It’s hard to not get swept up in the romance and beauty of Venice, so we say why fight it? Let yourself be taken in by the city’s many charms as you stroll along the cobblestone streets, overarching bridges, and world-famous canals. And then plan on doing a little more walking.
Consisting of more than 100 islands, Venice is Europe’s largest urban car-free area. So the only means for getting around (on dry land, at least) are your own two feet—unless, of course, you travel by water taxi or gondola. And let’s face it: If you don’t go on a gondola ride when you’re in Venice, you’ll never hear the end of it back home!
Fortunately, we’re about to cut back on your walking time considerably: As of 2015, Azamara will be docking at the San Basilio cruise terminal, a mere 25-minute meander away from Venice’s city center. Which means you’ll have even more time for doing things like people watching in the Piazza San Marco, sampling Veneto wines, and shopping for everything from Murano glass to swathes of silk.

Koper, Slovenia
As Slovenia’s largest coastal town, Koper is the gateway to an array of intercontinental adventures. For instance, crossing the border into the Italian coffee capital of Trieste for a cappuccino at Caffe San Marco. (That way we can say to our friends back home, “Yeah, we’re just off to Italy for a cup of coffee.”)
Or switching grounds, so to speak, trekking through the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Skocjan Caves, which features the largest underground canyon in the world and is only 30 minutes away from Koper. Or touring the Slovenian capital city of Ljubljana, truly one of Europe’s secret gems—but not for long, since Lonely Planet recently ranked Ljubljana at #2 on its Best in Europe list.
Then of course, there are the charms of Koper itself, especially in the Old Town, with historic sites like the 12th century St. Mary’s of the Assumption Cathedral, the Praetorian Palace, and the beautiful square of Titov Trg. What are you going to do?!

Hvar, Croatia
Hvar frequently appears on lists of the world’s most appealing islands. Its fertile plains and fresh water springs support glowing fields of lavender, fruit orchards, ancient olive trees, and vineyards, which you are invited to visit, producing some award winning “garage” wines, which you are encouraged to taste. Or perhaps you prefer an espresso while people watching in the town square, followed by a stroll through picturesque streets that reveal centuries of Dalmatian history.
Of note is the handmade agave lace, now on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, made by Benedictine nuns in their secluded convent.

Dubrovnik, Croatia
To visit Dubrovnik is to step back in time to the Middle Ages. The town is one massive museum, its thick walls constructed from the 13th to the 17th century encircle the entire city, and contain within them a treasure trove of striking architecture—squares, fountains, palaces, churches, and monasteries, all built from the same stone, line streets free of motor vehicles.
Once the only city-state on the Adriatic to rival Venice, Dubrovnik has long been a center for Croatian culture, and home to artists and scholars of all disciplines. It is possible to circumnavigate the city atop the medieval walls.

Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor’s beautiful bay has long attracted passing ships that stopped to trade, plunder, or conquer, and merchants, pirates, and soldiers of numerous empires have walked this maze of cobblestone streets before you.
One of Europe’s best-preserved cities of medieval or Renaissance vintage, its walls were constructed right into the steep slopes of the mountain behind it, providing protection and making it an amazing sight on approach from the sea. Venetian ramparts enclose a rich history, with churches of varying styles, and a Romanesque cathedral built on the foundations of an earlier church, and a still earlier Roman temple.

Fiskardo (Cephalonia), Greece
The most remarkable thing about Fiskardo is that it exists at all. In August 1953, three major earthquakes struck the island of Cephalonia, and destroyed almost every structure. The town of Fiskardo with its stately Venetian houses was one of the few spared.
So pastel buildings with green shutters still grace the sweep of a bay full of yachts, and beckoning village streets are lined with stylish shops, tempting patisseries, and cafés just perfect for soaking up the local scene. A coastal boat ride reveals secluded coves and shingle beaches fringed with olive groves, and seaside tavernas are perfect for a delightful evening ashore.

Katakolon (Olympia), Greece
This Greek seaside town is the gateway to the ruins of Olympia, where the ancient games began in 776 BC, and continued for over 1,000 years, until they were outlawed as a pagan festival, after Rome officially adopted Christianity as the only legitimate imperial religion.
The complex is made up of temples, workshops, and the training structures that have given us the word we still use today to describe such facilities: gymnasium. The games did not recommence until 1896, but their ancient roots are acknowledged when the modern Olympic flame is lit here every four years, before beginning its long journey to the host nation.

Giardini Naxos (Taormina), Sicily, Italy
This island off the tip of the Italian boot is the largest in the Mediterranean. Mountainous and rugged, its highest point is the tip of that infamous firebrand, the still active Mt Etna at 10,900 feet. Farmland, enriched by volcanic soil produces lush crops of olives, citrus, and grapes. Climbing higher you’d find forests, the scars left by old lava flows, and eventually the crater where smoke and simmering lava is sometimes visible. Taormina, is a lovely small medieval town perched on high cliffs, with spectacular views over the bay and rugged coastline below.

Amalfi, Italy
This locale requires a camera with lots of memory. Wedged into the mouth of a ravine, encircled by sheer cliffs and facing blue waters, it is hard to believe that this tranquil little town was once a great naval power.
Now, terraced hillsides support lemon groves, where the region’s famed limoncello is produced. Taste this delightfully sweet liqueur after a foray along the Amalfi Coast, a thrilling ride snaking along hillsides past unbelievably stunning views of other pastel hamlets perched above the sea.

Sorrento, Italy
A warming sun and gentle sea breezes have been attracting visitors to this fair spot for two millennia. Its reputation as a playground of the ancient rich and famous resulted in the building of lavish villas and palaces, an emperor relocated to the Isle of Capri nearby, and over the centuries it has been a haven for artists and artisans, writers and poets, politicians and philosophers, and all manner of aristocrats. You will be a welcome addition. The massive eruption of nearby Vesuvius in 79 AD caused considerable damage, but the resulting volcanic ash is responsible for Sorrento’s modern day fertility, thriving olive orchards, and excellent wine.

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Rome has something special to offer to all visitors, no matter their interests and tastes. Whether you daydream about fighting with gladiators in the Coliseum, debating with togaed senators in the Forum, tossing a coin in a fabled fountain, or being awestruck by the magnificence of St Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo’s masterpieces, Rome seems to live up to its sobriquet – the Eternal City. When you need sustenance, today’s Rome will provide delizioso pasta e vino. Or perhaps you draw strength from a little retail therapy – the Italians are also renowned for their sense of style.

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